We held LifePoint's last worship service yesterday and it was amazing to hear people tell stories of how our church had impacted their lives. As a pastor, you're usually aware of life situations and struggles. What you may not always be aware of is how you are influencing lives. After our opening set of music and communion, we had an open mic time of sharing. Nearly a dozen people got up and talked about the difference our church community had made in their lives. One lady spoke of the "ripples" of influence that LifePoint would have for years to come. I thought that was an appropriate image. By some measures, our time was short (only four years). But by God's measures, the ripples will extend throughout eternity. It was humbling to hear how God orchestrated events to allow our paths to cross at critical junctions. One lady spoke about finding…
Read More
While walking to lunch today I passed a group of PETA folks protesting animals in the circus. One lady was painted like a tiger and hunched over in a cage. After eating a few beef tacos for lunch, I started thinking about PETA and fair trade coffee (I was sitting at Starbucks). I personally like animals. I've had pets throughout the years -- rest in peace, Skittle. I also enjoy the circus, own leather shoes, and like my steaks well-done. My issue with groups like PETA isn't their opposition to animal cruelty but their elevation of animals to the same level as humans. Animals aren't human; that's why they're called animals. This is where the fair-trade part of the subject line comes in. Fair-trade products/companies seek to pay workers in developing countries a fair wage, rather than taking advantage of them for the companies gain. It elevates humans to the…
Read More
Working downtown for the last two-plus years has been quite interesting. Just five minutes ago, a man in a top hat and long coat strolled by as I enjoyed my coffee. Most everyone else is in a short-sleeve and shorts. Then there are the "shirtless boxer" sightings: a big-chested man who walks around topless and flexes for people. He even has a Facebook group dedicated to him. I snapped a picture once. Of course, downtown has the usual homeless characters, mostly beneign folks. A few are quite entertaining. A few are quite scary. Just down the street from my office is the Church of Steel, a tattoo and body piercing joint. Pastor Pain and the Deacons of Destruction hang outside on the sidewalk. I enjoy walking to Starbucks, especially the one with a loft on 5th Avenue. They know I want a tall coffee, no room for cream. Nine out…
Read More
June 28, 2009, will be LifePoint's last Sunday as a church community. Join us as we will be celebrating and honoring what God has accomplished during the life of our church family. Four years ago, a small group of seven people gathered in our living room and we dreamed of starting a new church in San Diego. As new faces began to show up in the living room, we realized our dream was becoming a reality. On September 11, 2005, we held our grand opening and watched as people previously disconnected from God found their way back to Him. People who hadn't been to church in years, if ever, felt at home. We reached out to the arts community in San Diego and hosted many fine musicians and artists. For nearly four years we shared the ups and downs of life -- babies were born, marriages were celebrated, people were…
Read More